Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

[Rover]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

Which is an excellent reason to make sure that slavery remains illegal.

I know conservatives like to refight the battles of the 60's, but I think huskyfan missed the memo and thought they meant the 1860's.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

huskyfan opposes taxing labor.

1 in 7 Americans live in poverty and Michelle Obama finds being first lady "hell".

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

As a side note, its become very cliche to infer that Wikipedia is not acurate. Indeed usually its a claim advanced by those who don't want their point to be challenged.

Today there is a huge community who have taken it as their priority to dissect and critique wikipedia. There are 17 different dimensions on each article that are constantly under study. And as a result, I have little doubt that it is one of the best sources on the net. In fact, I would challenge someone to find anything that is incorrect on Wikipedia. I'd love to see me wrong on this point...but seriously doubt I am.

Sure, wikipedia doesn't deserve its terrible rap. I'd agree with that.

The reason I didn't respond to the post you cited wasn't because I didn't trust the accuracy of the chart. I just didn't know what the point of it was

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

try to keep up there, Jeremiah.

I get that it's really a statement typically made by those who think that income tax is an affront to their existence.

But let's be honest here: a statement like that actually reads like an anti-slavery slogan, doesn't it?

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

I get that it's really a statement typically made by those who think that income tax is an affront to their existence.

But let's be honest here: a statement like that actually reads like an anti-slavery slogan, doesn't it?

well, yes, I am anti-slavery. you?

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

well, yes, I am anti-slavery. you?

Oh absolutely.

In fact, maybe we should be disgusted at the lack of anti-slavery sentiment in the modern media. Why have we developed such a disinterest in what is clearly a major and relevant topic?

 

[blockski]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

Not that wikipedia is a bastion of accuracy, but a quick shot over to the carboniferous period I found this little graphic. Interesting about CO2 concentration over time.

Can I ask what you find interesting about this?

To me, the interesting part is that the changes in CO2 concentrations occurred over millions of years. That is concerning, of course, since we've seen massive changes over the last 100 years.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

Can I ask what you find interesting about this?

To me, the interesting part is that the changes in CO2 concentrations occurred over millions of years. That is concerning, of course, since we've seen massive changes over the last 100 years.

I think the part thats interesting to me is that life has thrived in the past with CO2 concentrations in the 2000-3000 ppmv range and we're currently at 400 ppm so why should we be so alarmed?

 

[Rimbaud]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

I think the part thats interesting to me as that life has thrived in the past with CO2 concentrations in the 2000-3000 ppmv range and we're currently at 400 ppm so why should we be so alarmed?

I bet he could answer that question.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

Elizabeth Dole looks terrible these days.

 

[geezer]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

I get that it's really a statement typically made by those who think that income tax is an affront to their existence.

But let's be honest here: a statement like that actually reads like an anti-slavery slogan, doesn't it?

I think that's the point. Taxes are justified by the same principles, the entitlement to another's labor, that justifies slavery.

Oh absolutely.

In fact, maybe we should be disgusted at the lack of anti-slavery sentiment in the modern media. Why have we developed such a disinterest in what is clearly a major and relevant topic?

Actually, we should. All kidding aside, slavery is probably the biggest global challenge we face (unless, I guess, one feels that we're responsible for controlling climate change). Another reason to love the good ol' US of A where it's not such a problem.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

I think that's the point. Taxes are justified by the same principles, the entitlement to another's labor, that justifies slavery.

That's one way to look at it (for income tax, at least... I'm not sure the argument holds water for any sort of flat tax or sales tax).

Another way to look at it is that government, even a lassiez-faire government preferred by conservatives, isn't free. Unless the department of the treasury wants to start holding weekly bake sales, you've got to pay for government somehow. Therefore: the justification for taxes.

We can, and probably will, argue until we're blue in the face about the size and scope of our government, or how we should be taxed- but that doesn't change the fact that it's pretty darn hard to have a government without taxes.

Yet another way to look at it is that being a slave gives you nothing in return. Taxes, on the other hand, give you something in return. Maybe you don't like what you're getting. Maybe you've overpaid for what you're getting. But you're getting something.

 

[geezer]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

Another way to look at it is that government, even a lassiez-faire government preferred by conservatives, isn't free.

You're right. You can't make an omelet without smashing several billion eggs to bits.

 

[blockski]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

I think the part thats interesting to me is that life has thrived in the past with CO2 concentrations in the 2000-3000 ppmv range and we're currently at 400 ppm so why should we be so alarmed?

Perhaps because our species and our society has evolved within a very narrow band of climatic stability.

People misread concern for the environment as some sort of desire to keep the Earth the way it is (or was). That's not the case - environmentalism is really about understanding that the tremendously complex ecosystems are extremely beneficial to us as they are.

For example, I'd suggest reading a book by archaeologist Brian Fagan, entitled The Long Summer, detailing man's intimate relationship with climate, and how that climate has been vital to our evolution as a society.

Take a read of the part of the epilogue, starting on page 248:

http://books.google.com/books?id=yi... the long summer&pg=PA248#v=onepage&q&f=false

Pages 250-251 are the key conclusion.

If the climate changes, life will most certainly go on. Assuming that we'll be participating is a stretch, however. We are far more reliant on the earth and its climate than most people realize.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

The way I see it there will always be taxes, and the IRS will always be there to demand your payment. Unless you want to go back to the salad days of America and live in a loosely-knit country of unorganized local militias, toll roads, individual state currencies, subsistence farming, and private schools beyond the sixth grade, then citizens have to pay to keep society and commerce glued together.

I think we can all agree that things like compensation and perks for Senators, government travel expenses, corporate welfare, millions in other pork/waste, and the sheer amount of "silent money" in politics are largely out of touch though. Like most Americans, I just want more transparency, balanced budgets whenever possible, and less money being thrown down the drain.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

Unless you want to go back to the salad days of America and live in a loosely-knit country of unorganized local militias, toll roads, individual state currencies, subsistence farming, and private schools beyond the sixth grade

You have no idea how attractive that sounds. Mix in suffrage limited by property ownership and you've got yourself a deal.

Stupid electricity ruined everything.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

You have no idea how attractive that sounds. Mix in suffrage limited by property ownership and you've got yourself a deal.

Stupid electricity ruined everything.

I blame the proliferation of literacy.

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

I think the part thats interesting to me is that life has thrived in the past with CO2 concentrations in the 2000-3000 ppmv range and we're currently at 400 ppm so why should we be so alarmed?

Wait, what?!?

Human life as we know it (crude operationalization: homo sapiens) has been around for how long? Pretty sure it's well under a million years, never mind 400-500 million.

Which begs the question: What sort of life, exactly, was thriving 400 million years ago? I'm no paleobiologist, but I'm pretty sure they weren't mammals.

Which begs the question: What's the relevance, again?

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/09/public_school_children_forced.html

I put this here because I think it's more important than "nice planet," and because of the ongoing debate re: Islam in this country. It's SOP these days for people to proclaim themselves "outraged" by the most trivial things. "I'm outraged they didn't offer a vegetarian alternative to the hot dogs." etc. But THIS is outrageous. Who thinks it's appropriate to take middle school kids for a mini worship service, ever? Parental permission? Well, it seems parents weren't fully informed.

The tape is tendentious, certainly. But it's still hard to understand why it would be necessary to go to a mosque to study Islam. The idea of giving the kids a greater understanding is not automatically a bad one, but that can be accomplished in school, and doesn't require Islamic women in full regalia. In school the presentation can at least in theory be fact checked.

It would be rather like in the 30's, wanting the kids to understand what was going on in Germany, to take them to a meeting of the German American Bund and have Fritz Kuhn give 'em a little pep talk.

As we approach my favorite time of the year: the season when Manger Police fan out across the country looking to snuff out any "inappropriate" observations of Christmas, it is interesting to note that at least one ACLU type was on hand for this little indoctrination session. Nice. Oh, but the parents gave permission! Right. How about INFORMED permission?

If it's true that there is some sort of national effort here to "educate" our children about Islam, and it originates in, say Saudi Arabia, participation in it by public schools needs to be stopped, immediately.

Of course many of the same people who've been chastising us for "Islamophobia" for our opposition to putting an Islamist Victory Arch near GZ, will doubtless conclude opposition to these indoctrination sessions is yet another manifestation of our ignorance and intolerance.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Obama XV: Now, with 20% more rage

Hey, this lines up with NASA's number one priority under Obama, to reach out to Islam. Forget about that space stuff.